Eid-ul-Fitr being celebrated across Bangladesh

Bangladesh is celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festivals of Muslims, with prayers, greetings and festivities across the country today.

The main Eid congregation was held at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises in Dhaka at 8:30am, where President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman offered prayers. Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, cabinet members, Supreme Court judges, senior political leaders, and high-ranking civil and military officials also joined the main congregation.

The Eid prayers at the National Eidgah were organised by Dhaka South City Corporation, and Mufti Muhammad Abdul Malek led the prayers.

In addition, five Eid congregations were held in succession at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque from the morning. Another Eid congregation took place at 8:00am at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, attended by members of parliament, officials and staff of the parliament secretariat, and devotees from nearby areas. A separate prayer arrangement for women was made there this year.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman offered Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at the grounds of the Monipur High School and College (Main Girls Campus) in Mirpur, the capital.

Eid-ul-Fitr, an Arabic term meaning the festival of breaking the fast, marks the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk and devote themselves to prayer, Quran recitation and charity.

On Eid morning, devotees traditionally gather at mosques and open grounds to offer prayers and exchange greetings. The festival is also marked by visits to relatives and friends, special meals and the sharing of sweets. Children celebrate the day with new clothes and shoes and receive cash gifts, known as salami, from elders and well-wishers.

Eid-ul-Fitr is widely regarded as a time of gratitude, forgiveness and joy, as Muslims give thanks to Almighty Allah for enabling them to complete a month of fasting and spiritual discipline. Many people also distribute cash and food among the poor, making the festival not only a celebration, but also an occasion of compassion and sharing.